Loose-leaf filing index and method of making it

ABSTRACT

The index is a composite sheet or panel with pockets for filing cards on both its faces. The index and its pockets are made by nesting a plurality of folded sheets which have tabs offset along one side of the foldline. When nested, the tabs depend below the foldline and space the folded sheets apart and form individual pockets on each face of the index, for filing cards with a margin visible.

llhll lie Wogl [151 fimdfifihll Fella. 22, 119723 [541 LUUSlE-LEAW lFlllslING llNlUlEX [will]? MlE'llll-llllllll U11 MATUNG HT [72] inventor: Kurt C. l/ogl, Clay, NY.

[73] Assignee: Enomm it llease Company, Brooklyn,

22 Filed: N0v.il0,1l969 211 App1.No.: 175,359

[52] US. Cl .AW/NMLW [51] int. Cl. "G091 7/00 [58] Field oilfiearch ..40/104.19, 104.01,104.1, 104.017,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,119,768 12/1914 Thomas ..40/104.5 X

Orzchovski ..40/124.2 Best ..40l78 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-J. l-il. Wolff Attorney-Davis, Hoxie, Faithfull & l-lapgood [5 7] STRACT The index is a composite sheet or panel with pockets for filing cards on both its faces. The index and its pockets are made by nesting a plurality of folded sheets which have tabs offset along one side of the foldline. When nested, the tabs depend below the foldline and space the folded. sheets apart and form individual pockets on each face of the index, for filing cards with a margin visible.

1111 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDFEB 22 1912 SHEET 1 [IF 2 g/ pgood Affomeys FIG.1

GLBABBSO SHEET E OF 2 FIGS Owe/Var Kari VOQ/ By Dav/s, Ham- Fa/fhfu 8 Hop good Alf/0m eys LOOSE-LEAF FILING INDEX ANI) MIETIIUD OF MAKING I'll This invention relates to a flat index suitable for use in a looseleaf binder and elsewhere, made from sheets or pieces of heavy paper, light cardboard or other equivalent flat bendable materials assembled in such a way as to provide a series of flat overlapped pockets on the obverse side as well as on the reverse side capable of receiving cards or similar flat information-bearing sheets of various sorts and kinds, of which microfiche cards are mentioned as only one example.

One object of the invention is to provide such an index that is easy and economical to manufacture but whose construction is rugged and will be durable in use.

Another object is to provide such an index which is compact so as to enable a plurality of them to be filed in looseleaf book form for storing them and their contents.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a front elevation view of the invention with several cards filed in some of its pockets.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the invention as shown in FIG. I looking in the direction of arrows 2-2.

FIGS. 3, d and 5 illustrate parts used in making the invention of FIG. ll, on a reduced scale.

FIG. 6 is an exploded section view taken along line 66 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of several of the folded parts being nested, as during the assembly of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another form of two pocket sheets used in the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the index is formed (as described hereinafter in more detail), by nesting a plurality of folded pocket sheets 20 of paper, preferably heavy paper or light cardboard or any equivalent material which can be folded, and binding their side edges with lengthwise folded strips 13-14 of paper or other material of the aforementioned kinds. The nesting begins in a folded bottom sheet 17 and is finished in a top sheet I6.

The bottom sheet 17 is preferably rectangular and is folded in half along line I7fparallel to its longer edges.

Inserted into the folded bottom sheet is a pocket sheet 20 which is preferably rectangular and may be the same size as the bottom sheet and folded in half like the bottom sheet, along line 20f parallel to its longer edges. The pocket sheet differs from the bottom sheet in the provision of two spaces rectangular tabs 21 and 22 nonsymetrically positioned along the fold line 20f. Each of the tab is formed by die cutting along two parallel spaced lines 23, 24 perpendicular to the fold line and connected by cut line 25 parallel to the fold line. These cuts cause the tabs 21, 22 to appear as a continuation of one leaf 20 of the pocket sheet as it is folded from the position of FIG. 3 into the condition of FIG. 41.

When the first pocket sheet 20 is inserted with its tabs innermost into the folded bottom sheet 17 the free or top edges 26 of the pocket sheet will project beyond and above the free edges of the bottom sheet a distance equal to the distance that the tabs extend beyond the folded edge of the pocket sheet. The front part or leaf of the bottom sheet together with the adjacent front parts of the pocket sheet provide a space or pocket 12 between them into which an information-bearing card can be inserted with its top or outer edge 15a overlapping the projecting or top edge of the pocket sheet. Likewise a pocket is provided on the reverse side between the other two parts of the bottom and pocket sheets.

After insertion of the first pocket sheet between the leaves of the bottom sheet 17, another pocket sheet is inserted between the leaves of the first pocket sheet but the second pocket sheet is reversed so that its tabs do not register with the tabs of the first pocket sheet but instead rest on inside of the fold of the first pocket sheet. This causes the top or outer edges of the leaves 20', 20" of the second pocket sheet to project beyond the top or outer edges of the first pocket sheet in the same manner and to the same extent as the first pocket sheet projects beyond the bottom sheet.

Additional pocket sheets are successively inserted in the same manner, each being reversed with respect to its neighbors so that all tabs on adjacent sheets are out of register, thus to support each pocket sheet with its outer edge projecting beyond its predecessor. Each of the folded parts 20, 20" of one pocket sheet will thus cooperate with the same parts of its neighbors before and succeeding it to form in succession two pockets, on the obverse and the reverse sides, respectively.

After the last of the desired number of pocket sheets has been assembled, a top sheet 16 is inserted between the folds of the last pocket sheet. The top sheet 16 may be a rectangular sheet of the same size as the pocket sheets, folded along a line 119 parallel to its longer sides preferably at a distance from one edge sufficient to cause a projection of the outer edge of the folded top sheet a desired distance beyond the outer or top edge of the top pocket sheet. The projection will usually be a distance at least equal to the projections of the pocket sheets, one beyond the other, so that cards of the same size inserted in all the pockets will be positioned alike. In other words the fold line 119 will usually be a distance from one edge the same as the distance from one edge of the pocket sheet to the free edge of the tab.

The top sheet is inserted between the sides of the folded pocket sheet with its folded edge outermost, thus forming a straight edge along the top of the index.

Instead of a folded top sheet 16 an unfolded single-thickness sheet of the same or any desired thickness and stiffness may be used as a top sheet having the same outside marginal dimensions as the top sheet when folded.

The effective dimensions of either form of top sheet, are substantially the same as the dimensions of the folded bottom sheet.

The above described assembly is bound together by binding strips 13 and M folded longitudinally preferably along their midlines as at 13f and 14f and lapped over the obverse and reverse side of the assembly along opposite longitudinal side edges of the assembly running from top to bottom. The binding strips are secured by a suitable adhesive or otherwise to all the folded pocket sheets and the top and bottom sheets.

In order to be able to use the assembly in a looseleaf type of ring binder the left binding strip 13 is perforated as at 2% to accept the rings of such a binder.

The particular value of the tabs is to locate and hold the pocket sheets in assembled position until secured by the edgebinding strips and to maintain the positioning if the adhesive should fail to hold a sheet after prolonged use of the index.

Although two nonsymetrically placed tabs are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, one tab could be used, an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 8 showing both obverse and reverse sides I20, 120" of a pocket sheet 120 with one side tab 1211a. The tab should be wide enough to support the pocket sheets nontiltably in their positions during assembly and provided it is not so wide that when the alternate pocket sheets are reversed the whole length of tabs will not enter the openings created when the tabs are cut.

An advantage of the offset tabs is that one die can be used to cut all the pocket sheets, with reversal of alternate pocket sheets during assembly, to avoid the tabs of one sheet from passing through the holes adjacent the tabs in its predecessor and consequently not maintaining the spacing of each pocket sheet with its edge projecting beyond and above its predecessor.

The novel index-sheet is particularly useful for filing and storing microfiche cards. I have found that making the index of nonacid material prevents deterioration of the film filed in it. For this purpose I prefer to make the pockets of the index of nonacid paper. A suitable example of such paper is Pen malite paper.

The pockets may be of any preferred dimensions and of any desired number. For example, the pockets may have the length of the fold line greater than the distance from the fold line to the free top edges of the pockets, as shown in FIGS. 1-7; or the relative distance may be reversed, as shown in FIG. 8. The relation of the depth of the pocket to the size of the card to be filed is such that depth of the pocket leaves exposed a margin of the card.

In this specification terms such as top and bottom, length and width, are used for convenience of description only. The parts may be held in the reverse position.

As used in the claims the word card is used to indicate any flat object to be filed in the index sheet.

I claim:

1. A flat index for filing cards and the like comprising a plurality of pocket-forming sheets each having parallel edges and being folded along a line parallel to and between said edges forming two leaves, said sheets being nested within one another in succession, spacing means on each sheet extending beyond the fold line of the sheet, said spacing means comprising at least one tab nonsymetrically positioned along the length of the fold of the pocket sheet, the spacing means of each sheet resting against the fold line of the sheet within which it is nested, said pocket sheets being nested in alternately reversed positions, causing the edges parallel to the fold to extend beyond the corresponding edges of the sheet within which it is nested, the leaves of adjacent sheets forming a series of pockets, and means to secure said sheets together in a permanent assembly.

2. An index as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fold line is approximately midway between said parallel edges and series of pockets are formed on the obverse and on the reverse faces of the index.

3. An index as claimed in claim 1 with a bottom sheet having parallel edges and folded along a line between said edges, the first of said plurality of pocket sheets being nested in said bottom sheet.

4. An index as claimed in claim 1 having a top sheet with a straight edge and being nested in the last-to-be-nested of said pocket sheets.

5. An index as claimed in claim 4 with a bottom sheet having parallel edges and folded along a line between said edges, the first of said plurality of pocket sheets being nested in said bottom sheet.

6. An index as claimed in claim 5 wherein said securing means comprises folded strips overlapping opposite side edges of the series of pocket sheets and of said top and bottom sheets and are secured thereto.

7. An index as claimed in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises folded strips overlapping opposite side edges of the series of pocket sheets and secured thereto.

8. An index as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pocket sheets are identical and said spacing means formed as an integral part of said pocket sheets.

9. An index as claimed in claim 8 wherein the spacing means comprises at least two tabs nonsymetrically positioned along the length of the fold of the pocket sheet.

10. A method of making an index having on each face a series of pockets for filing cards with a margin visible, compris mg a. using a plurality of sheets of the same size each having side edges of a dimension which is twice the height of the card to be filed exclusive of the card margin which is to be visible, and having parallel top and bottom edges of a dimension greater than the width of the card to be filed,

b. forming a fold along the center of said sheet between said parallel edges thereby forming two leaves and c. cutting spacing means from one leaf adjacent said fold line and spaced nonsymetrically from the side edges of the sheet and having substantially the same height as the card margin which is to be visible,

(1. reversing alternate sheets and nesting said alternately reversed sheets, thereby causing at least part of the bottom edge of said spacing means to rest in the fold of the sheet below it, leaving a margin of each leaf visible above the leaves of the sheet below. 11. A method of making an index having on each face a series of pockets for filing cards with a margin visible, comprisa. using a plurality of sheets of the same size each having side edges of a dimension which is twice the height of the card to be filed exclusive of the card margin which is to be visible, and having parallel top and bottom edges of a dimension greater than the width of the card to be filed,

b. forming a fold along the center of said sheet between said parallel edges thereby forming two equal leaves and c. forming a series of pocket sheets by cutting from one leaf adjacent said central fold line of each sheet a pair of tabs spaced nonsymetrically along said fold line, thereby leaving nonsymetrically spaced openings in said leaf,

d. reversing alternate pocket sheets and nesting said alternately reversed sheets, whereby the tabs and spaced openings of alternate sheets do not register,

. nesting the bottommost of said pocket sheets in a folded sheet having the same height and width as a pocket sheet, but without tabs, thereby forming the bottom of the index,

f. nesting in the topmost of the pocket sheets, a sheet having the same length as pocket sheet, and the same effective height as a leaf of a pocket sheet plus the height of a tab, thereby dividing the topmost sheet into a pocket on each face of the index, and

g. apply a strip to each side edge of all the pockets thereby closing the side edges of the pockets, and forming a series of pockets on both the obverse and reverse faces of said index. 

1. A flat index for filing cards and the like comprising a plurality of pocket-forming sheets each having parallel edges and being folded along a line parallel to and between said edges forming two leaves, said sheets being nested within one another in succession, spacing means on each sheet extending beyond the fold line of the sheet, said spacing means comprising at least one tab nonsymetrically positioned along the length of the fold of the pocket sheet, the spacing means of each sheet resting against the fold line of the sheet within which it is nested, said pocket sheets being nested in alternately reversed positions, causing the edges parallel to the fold to extend beyond the corresponding edges of the sheet within which it is nested, the leaves of adjacent sheets forming a series of pockets, and means to secure said sheets together in a permanent assembly.
 2. An index as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fold line is approximately midway between said parallel edges and series of pockets are formed on the obverse and on the reverse faces of the index.
 3. An index as claimed in claim 1 with a bottom sheet having parallel edges and folded along a line between said edges, the first of said plurality of pocket sheets being nested in said bottom sheet.
 4. An index as claimed in claim 1 having a top sheet with a straight edge and being nested in the last-to-be-nested of said pocket sheets.
 5. An index as claimed in claim 4 with a bottom sheet having parallel edges and folded along a line between said edges, the first of said plurality of pocket sheets being nested in said bottom sheet.
 6. An index as claimed in claim 5 wherein said securing means comprises folded strips overlapping opposite side edges of the series of pocket sheets and of said top and bottom sheets and are secured thereto.
 7. An index as claimed in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises folded strips overlapping opposite side edges of the series of pocket sheets and secured thereto.
 8. An index as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pocket sheets are identical and said spacing means formed as an integral part of said poCket sheets.
 9. An index as claimed in claim 8 wherein the spacing means comprises at least two tabs nonsymetrically positioned along the length of the fold of the pocket sheet.
 10. A method of making an index having on each face a series of pockets for filing cards with a margin visible, comprising a. using a plurality of sheets of the same size each having side edges of a dimension which is twice the height of the card to be filed exclusive of the card margin which is to be visible, and having parallel top and bottom edges of a dimension greater than the width of the card to be filed, b. forming a fold along the center of said sheet between said parallel edges thereby forming two leaves and c. cutting spacing means from one leaf adjacent said fold line and spaced nonsymetrically from the side edges of the sheet and having substantially the same height as the card margin which is to be visible, d. reversing alternate sheets and nesting said alternately reversed sheets, thereby causing at least part of the bottom edge of said spacing means to rest in the fold of the sheet below it, leaving a margin of each leaf visible above the leaves of the sheet below.
 11. A method of making an index having on each face a series of pockets for filing cards with a margin visible, comprising a. using a plurality of sheets of the same size each having side edges of a dimension which is twice the height of the card to be filed exclusive of the card margin which is to be visible, and having parallel top and bottom edges of a dimension greater than the width of the card to be filed, b. forming a fold along the center of said sheet between said parallel edges thereby forming two equal leaves and c. forming a series of pocket sheets by cutting from one leaf adjacent said central fold line of each sheet a pair of tabs spaced nonsymetrically along said fold line, thereby leaving nonsymetrically spaced openings in said leaf, d. reversing alternate pocket sheets and nesting said alternately reversed sheets, whereby the tabs and spaced openings of alternate sheets do not register, e. nesting the bottommost of said pocket sheets in a folded sheet having the same height and width as a pocket sheet, but without tabs, thereby forming the bottom of the index, f. nesting in the topmost of the pocket sheets, a sheet having the same length as pocket sheet, and the same effective height as a leaf of a pocket sheet plus the height of a tab, thereby dividing the topmost sheet into a pocket on each face of the index, and g. apply a strip to each side edge of all the pockets thereby closing the side edges of the pockets, and forming a series of pockets on both the obverse and reverse faces of said index. 